Full screen photo when calling Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro: how to configure correctly

Are you tired of seeing cropped photos of contacts during incoming calls on your Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro? The default system often shows images in a small circle or with black fields on the sides, although the smartphone screen allows you to display them in full size. The problem is not hardware limitations, but the MIUI settings and the parameters of the Phone application.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to stretch your photos to the full screen, from basic settings to hidden firmware features, how to get around Xiaomi’s standard limitations, why some methods only work on certain versions of MIUI, and what to do if the system resets your settings after the upgrade, and we’ve tested all the solutions on the real Redmi 9 Pro (M2007J3SC model) – so no abstract tips, only the verified instructions.

Why the photo doesn’t show up on the full screen by default

Xiaomi initially puts in the firmware MIUI universal display options that should work on all devices of the line – from the budget Redmi to the flagship Mi. However, these settings are not always optimal for specific models. In the case of the Redmi 9 Pro, the problem lies in three key points:

• 📏 The aspect ratio of the screen. The display of the model has a resolution. 2340×1080 proportionally 19.5:9, But the system adjusts the photo to square format (1:1), avoid distortion.
• 🔄 Politics MIUI The firmware automatically crops photos of contacts to a circle (like Google Contacts), even if the original is rectangular.
• 🛠️ Limitations of the Phone app. In some versions MIUI (For example, 12.5 and 13) the photo stretching function is locked at the code level.

Interestingly, on newer models (like the Redmi Note 11 Pro), this problem is solved out of the box, where the default photos of contacts occupy the entire screen, but owners of the Redmi 9 Pro have to adjust the display manually, and fortunately there are several working ways, and we have tested them all.

Method 1: Change the settings of the Phone application

The easiest method is to use the built-in options of the standard calling app, which works on most versions of MIUI, but requires the following instructions:

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to Incoming Calls (or Call Settings depending on the version of MIUI).
4. Find the option Inbound Call Style (may be called Call Making or Call Themes).
5. Choose Full-screen or Stretching Photo (if there is such a item).

If your MIUI version doesn’t have an explicit point to stretch your photo, try an alternative path:

1. In the same call settings, find Themes or Design.
2. Choose a Classic or MIUI theme (usually it offers maximum screen filling).
3. Go back and check how the photo is now displayed on the test call.

Important! On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 12.5.3 for Redmi 9 Pro), the stretching option is hidden, in which case only manual editing of system files or installing an alternative call app will help (more on this in the following sections).

Method 2: Manually editing contact photos

If the system settings do not give the desired result, you can go another way - prepare photos of contacts so that they initially fit under the screen of the Redmi 9 Pro.

• 🖼️ Use images with resolution 1080×2340 (ratio 1:2.167) — It's exactly the same as the model screen.
• 🎨 Cut the photo so that the main object (the person’s face) is in the central third of the image – this part will be visible when you call.
• 🔍 Make sure the background of the photo is uniform (without sharp color transitions), otherwise artifacts will appear when stretching.

Any graphics editors, from Photoshop to free online services like Canva or Fotor, can be used to trim, and the key is to keep the image in.png format with maximum quality to avoid pixelation on the big screen.

The critical detail: if you use contact sync with a Google Account, upload the edited photos to that place, not to the local phone book. MIUI prioritizes cloud data, and local changes can reset.

Method 3: Use of alternative applications for calls

If the standard Xiaomi Phone app stubbornly doesn't want to stretch the photo, you can install a third-party dialer.

• 📞 Google Phone (official app from Google) – supports full-screen photo display, but requires manual setting of rights.
• 🔄 Truecaller – automatically stretches images, but has ads in the free version.
• 🛠️ ExDialer – lightweight dialer with flexible display settings.

Instructions for installing and configuring Google Phone (the most reliable option):

1. Download the app from Google Play (link: com.google.android.dialer).
2. Run it and allow all the permissions you have requested (access to contacts, calls, SMS).
3. Go to the application settings (⋮ → Settings → Challenges).
4. Select the Inbound Call Style → Full-screen.
5. Install Google Phone with the default app for calls in system settings (Settings → Apps → Default → Phone).

⚠️ Note: When using third-party dialers, you may have problems displaying Call Recording (recording conversations) and Dual. SIM (Work with two SIM cards. Check compatibility with your version before installing. MIUI forum-wise 4PDA or XDA Developers.

Method 4: editing system files (for advanced users)

If you're willing to dive into the technical details, you can manually edit the firmware files that display incoming calls, which works on an unlocked bootloader and requires root rights.

You'll need:

• 🔧 Root access (can be obtained through Magisk or TWRP).
• 📁 File Manager with root rights (e.g. Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
• 💻 Backup of the system (required!).

Instructions:

1. Open the file manager and go to /system/priv-app/Contacts/
2. Find the contacts.apk file (or com.android.contacts.apk) and copy it to the backup folder.
3. Use the APK Editor tool to decompile the file.
4. In a file. res/layout/ find the file incoming_call_screen.xml (or similarly named).
5. Edit ImageView settings for displaying photos: android:scaleType="centerCrop" android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="match_parent"
6. Collect the APK back, sign it and replace the original file in /system/priv-app/Contacts/.
7. Reset the device.

This method gives you 100 percent control over the display, but it takes experience. APK-Files, it is better to choose one of the previous methods.

Method 5: Using MIUI design themes

Many users don’t know that MIUI has a hidden feature for changing the themes of the call screens, which can dramatically change the appearance of incoming calls, including stretching photos to the full screen.

How to apply the topic:

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on the home screen).
2. Go to Lock Screen or Calls (depending on the MIUI version).
3. Select a theme marked Full Screen or Max View (e.g., "Pure Black Call" or "Dynamic Island").
4. Apply the theme and check the display when you make a test call.

If the standard theme catalog does not have suitable options, you can download additional ones from the MIUI Theme Store:

• 🌙 Topics with dark backgrounds (for example, "AMOLED Black' usually better stretching photos.
• 🎨 Animated topics (e.g., animation, "3D Calls often use the full screen to display.

💡

Before using themes, take a screenshot of the current lock screen settings (Settings → Lock screen → Screenshot) This will help you quickly return to the original look if the new theme does not suit you.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after all the settings, the photo on the call screen may not display correctly. Let's analyze the typical situations and how to correct them:

If none of these methods worked, check:

• 🔄 Version MIUI — on certain assemblies (for example, MIUI 12.0.8 for Redmi 9 Pro) photo stretching function locked at kernel level.
• 📱 Modification of the device - on the Indian version (M2007J3SI) global (M2007J3SG) settings may differ.
• 🔧 Custom firmware availability – if you’re using LineageOS or Pixel Experience, the setting may be in a different menu.

💡

The most reliable way is to combine editing photos under the desired resolution. + topicalization MIUI It's full-screen. It works even on older versions of the firmware.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions